“Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground,” stated by Frederick Douglass. Douglass tries to make “hyprocaties” understand that those who want free need to work for it if they don’t work for it they will only make fools of themselves. Frederick Douglass was an American slave who bought his own freedom in order to become a free man, and he states this type of quotes to make slaves fight for their rights. Using the Toulmin Model, readers can discern the main claim is that Americans are hypocrites when they celebrate Independence day on the grounds that they still have slaves and analyze other elements of argumentation such as many Americans still encouraging slavery. …show more content…
Additionally, Douglass supports his main claim by including minor claims by stating what he has seen; for example, how “true American patriots” treat African Americans miserable. Therefore, he states, “ America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future.” What this phrase is saying is that ever since people started celebrating independence they don’t know the true meaning of it. That’s why Frederick states they are hypocrites because many Americans don’t know true significant of what Independence Day is, they just think it’s the day America separate from Great Britain. In addition, further generations are going to think it was the separation and that everyone in the United States had the same freedom, but in reality they are not going to know who were the only ones that had freedom in the …show more content…
Frederick states that slavery is wrong, but something that people should know is that, that was the life back then. Everyone had different mindset back then. Many Americans didn’t find anything wrong celebrating Independence day and owning slaves. Because they knew their skin color was going to protect them in difficult times. They thought it’s the right thing to do because those who fought for the United States freedom were white; therefore, they believe they have the right to celebrate that day. However, back then the opinions of the blacks were not valid that why whites thought slaves were a good thing. After the speech Douglass gave and the years went by, many people thought it was egotastic how not all american were considered slaves just because their skin color was
Mr. Douglass was trying to express how a slave feels about the Fourth of July. Frederick Douglass thinks that the Fourth of July is a “sham.” He thinks it is an example of the injustice against black people and the hypocrisy of white people. He says “with all your religious parade and solemnity, are, to Him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy.” Mr. Douglass believes that America’s denunciation of tyrants is hypocritical and
In the text, Frederick Douglass who once a slave wanted to acknowledge the unfulfilled promise of equality and independence through the holiday “Independence day.” In his address he talks about how people celebrate independence day even though everyone is not free. Frederick douglass wants to persuade the rochester ladies anti slavery group to stop celeberating indepence day becasue it is a hypcritical holiday becuase there are still people in America that are not fully free in their independence. Douglass creates a serious tone in order to establish the seriousness that Independence day is a day that should not be celebrated due to the fact that it is not what it says it is. Frederick Douglass appeals to the audience by the use
Imagine you were a slave in the 1850’s, and were asked to celebrate the Fourth of July, despite the fact that you still didn’t have your own freedom. Would you do it? Frederick Douglass stands up to this question, when he gives his, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July”, speech in 1852. Douglass is not only speaking to a crowd of abolitionists, but also a crowd filled with anti abolitionists. Douglass is speaking, to share his bold argument on this topic, and support anti slavery.
Douglass establishes his credibility and authority on the issue of slavery and inequality in the United States by drawing on his own experience and expertise. He begins the speech by introducing himself as a former slave and expressing his sadness and disappointment at the Fourth of July festivities which celebrate the nation’s independence while ignoring the ongoing oppression of African Americans. He says, “I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us.” By acknowledging his own identity as a former slave, Douglass gives himself immediate credibility on the issue of slavery and inequality.
On July 4, 1852, Frederick Douglass was invited to celebrate Independence Day in Rochester, New York and was to give a speech. His intended audience was the general public in which he believed needed to hear his opinion. Frederick Douglass was a former slave who had escaped his torment in his early twenties. In his speech, Douglass argues to the American people that they have a pretentious attitude toward slaves' freedom. Douglass states his thesis when he says "America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false in the future."
“The Hypocrisy of American Slavery: Slavery at its best” Frederick Douglass an activist for anti racism and also an abolitionist’s speech “The Hypocrisy of Slavery” was given on the occasion of celebrating the independence day. Here, in this speech he actually brought out some questions like why we should celebrate Independence Day while almost four million people were kept chained as a slave. He actually mocked the fact of the people of America’s double standards which is that they are singing out the song of liberty, on the other hand holding the chain of slavery. Frederick Douglass, a former American-African slave who managed to escape from his slavery and later on became an abolitionist gave this speech on Fourth of July,
On the 4th of July, independence day, Douglass gave a speech still remembered to this day. His famous, "What to the Slave is 4th of July?" lecture address slavery and why it is contradicting America’s roots and beliefs; equality, freedom, and democracy. This shows Douglass’ views on humanity, all blacks are human and should be treated equal.
Douglass’s position differ from those who supported slavery is that people who supported slavery, they thought it was a natural thing to do because on the Document “ Slavery a positive Good” on paragraph 1 it says, “ To maintain the existing relations between two races, inhabiting that section of the Union, is indispensable to the peace and happiness of both…. But let me not be understood as admitting, even by implication, that the existing relations between two races in the slaveholding states is an evil: - far otherwise; I hold to be good, as it has thus far proved itself both, and will continue to prove so if not disturbed by the fell spirit of abolition.” What this piece of evidence is saying is that slavery is a good thing and not a bad thing and that abolition should stop. Another way that Frederick Douglass’s position is different from people that support is that people who support slavery is that the people who support slavery has a different perspective of what is right and what is wrong because on the Document “ Slavery a Positive Good” paragraph 2 it says,” I hold in the present state of civilization, where two races of different origin, and distinguished by color, and other physical differences, as well as intellectual, are brought together, the relation now existing in the slaveholding States between the two is, instead of an evil, a good- a positive good… I hold then, that
He questions his audience of the significance of Independence Day to slaves, and he answers it in an extremely contrasting way: “your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; … your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery,” that the celebration is “a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages.” Douglass dismisses the national pride, characterizing it as a mere expression of people’s ignorance. The antithesis, with “greatness” being “vanity,” “sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless,” and “shouts of liberty and equality” being “hollow mockery,” provokes shock and anger from the audience, who have just been part of it and are now degraded as “savages.” However, Douglass was not trying to be inflammatory but provocative, witnessing the pathetic enthusiasm in the anniversary, that people feel exuberant about themselves while ignoring the saddening
As time passed by, Frederick Douglass became well known. He empowered African Americans to develop their own skills to make a change in society. In Frederick’s opinion, he believed that people uphold the power to form a better future. Frederick questioned saying, “ what to the American slave is your Fourth of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim” (Douglass 12).
In 1776, on July 4th, the 13 English colonies officially declared their freedom from England. However, as the years progressed, slavery became incorporated into everyday American life. In 1852, former slave Frederick Douglass gave a speech to celebrate America’s independence; however, instead of praising the country, he censured Americans for saying they were a “country of the free”. In the speech, Hypocrisy of American Slavery, Frederick Douglass declares that Americans should not be celebrating their freedom when there are slaves living in the country. To convince his audience that Americans are wrong celebrating freedom on the 4th of July when slavery exists in their country, he uses emotional appeal, ethical appeal, and rhetorical questions.
The fourth of July and slaves really don’t mix. Frederick douglass was born as a slave and he does a speech on the fourth of july and they are thinking that he is going to give a whora speech but he dont do that it 's the complete opposite of what they thought. In frederick douglass, Hypocrisy of American Slavery he attacks the hypocrisy of a nation celebrating freedom and independence with speeches, parades and platitudes, while, within its borders, nearly four million humans were being kept as slaves. Overall douglass has explained his speech through emotional,ethical,logical appeal and through rhetorical questions.
A Relentless Fight for Freedom for all: A Response to the Meaning of the July Fourth for the Negro In his July 5th, 1852 speech, “The Meaning of the July Fourth for the Negro”, Frederick Douglass addresses the issue of American Slavery, a provocative stumbling block in American history. In the opening segment, Douglass gracefully conveys to his audience, a great sense of admiration of respect for the Founding Fathers of the United States, the original signers responsible for the Declaration of Independence. This powerful document was initially constructed in part to be regarded and abided by as the statement of freedom and liberty to all citizens in America. Although Douglass appears to have faith in in the Declaration of Independence and
When most people hear the words “Fourth of July” they think about fireworks, cookouts, and sparklers. During the 1850’s, the Fourth of July served as a reminder of the many horrors and injustices in the world. On July 4, 1852, Frederick Douglass-- a former American slave, abolitionist leader and adroit speaker-- spoke in Rochester, New York about the affectation of celebrating independence. In his speech, “The Hypocrisy of American Slavery”, he claims celebrating independence is unethical when slavery is widespread. To convince the reader of his claim, he uses rhetorical questions, emotional appeal, and antithesis in hopes of shedding light and sparking action on the wrongful situation.
In 1776, on July 4th, the 13 English colonies officially declared their freedom from England. However, as the years progressed, slavery became incorporated into everyday American life. In 1852, Frederick Douglass, a former slave, was called upon to deliver a speech to celebrate America’s independence; however, he censured Americans for saying they were a “country of the free”. In the speech, Hypocrisy of American Slavery, Frederick Douglass declares that Americans should not be celebrating their freedom when there are slaves living in the country. He uses emotional appeal, ethical appeal, and rhetorical questions to convince his audience that Americans are wrong celebrating freedom on the 4th of July when slavery exists in their country.